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“We were under more than 20 feet of water in some locations,” said Elizabeth McLean, Director of Equestrian Activities at Biltmore, when discussing the impact of the deadliest hurricane in North Carolina history.
by Debbie Elliot | Sep 2, 2025, 9:30 AM
On September 27, 2024, wind and flooding from Hurricane Helene devastated the western Appalachian area of North Carolina, including the town of Asheville, which is home to Biltmore, a majestic house and historic property dating back to 1895. Several rivers in the region overflowed and the subsequent destruction led Helene to become the costliest natural disaster in North Carolina history.
The 8,000-acre Biltmore estate hosts two endurance rides each year: a spring ride in May and a fall ride in September. While the spring event had to be cancelled earlier this year due to ongoing recovery efforts, the Biltmore Fall Endurance Ride to Benefit Hope for Horses will take place around the estate’s stunning trail system on September 20-21. The event features a number of different classes: 30-mile Limited Distance, 50-mile, 65-mile, and 75-mile Endurance Rides, plus FEI divisions (2* Open, 1* Open and Junior/Young Rider). Biltmore's bi-annual endurance rides follow the Biltmore trails; photo by Becky Pearman
“Our primary facility and a lot of our pastures are right alongside the French Broad River in Asheville, so we had significant flooding after Helene, worse than I've ever seen, and certainly worse than the area had seen in over a hundred years,” said Elizabeth McLean, Director of the Biltmore Equestrian CenterActivities at Biltmore. “We were under more than 20 feet of water in some locations.”
There was heavy rainfall throughout the week before the brunt of Helene hit the area, then the hurricane pummeled western North Carolina, ultimately leading to 108 deaths across the state.
Fortunately, no lives were lost at Biltmore despite the property suffering significant damage...
Read more here:
https://www.usef.org/media/equestrian-weekly/endurance-competition-returns-to-biltmore
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